Clifford Nwa Orji (1965 or 1966 – August 17, 2012) [1] was a Nigerian alleged cannibal. He was also indicted in serial killings, kidnappings, and sale of human body parts. [2] Orji was arrested in 1999 and died in Nigeria's only super-maximum penitentiary, where he spent 13 years without being tried. [1]
Orji was originally from Enugu State in south-eastern Nigeria but lived in Lagos state in the south-west.[ citation needed] He was initially a razor-blade merchant but later proclaimed himself a shaman, a "native doctor Chinneyelu". [2] He lived under a highway bridge in Oshodi-Isolo, reportedly pretending to be mentally ill. [3] [4] [5]
Orji was arrested on February 3, 1999, after a missing woman was discovered near death at his home under the bridge. Fresh and cooked human body parts and human skulls were also discovered. He was arraigned at a Magistrate court in Ebute-Meta. [6] After his arrest, a thorough search of his hideout was made, which also revealed female underwear, [1] [4] a cheque for ₦80,000, and a mobile phone, at a time when the G.S.M. had not been fully introduced to the Nigerian market, so only wealthy people had mobile phones. [6] A man accused of being his accomplice in trading human body parts was also arrested. [2]
At a news conference organized by the police, Orji confessed to kidnapping, murder and cannibalism, saying that he and his accomplice "[had] been eating human meat for the past seven years before coming to Lagos. It is our culture to eat human meat." [2] On December 7, 2000, he was remanded for murder in Kirikiri Prison, which is Nigeria's only supermax prison. [7]
In April 2012, after approximately 12 years in prison without his case coming to trial, Orji sued the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Ade Ipaye, for unlawful imprisonment. [7] Prison authorities stated that they had been unable to have him treated for mental illness, which had progressed and he could not be tried when insane. [8] [9] He died at the age of 46 on August 17, 2012. [1] [9] [10] An autopsy established that his death was from natural causes. [11]
Clifford Nwa Orji (1965 or 1966 – August 17, 2012) [1] was a Nigerian alleged cannibal. He was also indicted in serial killings, kidnappings, and sale of human body parts. [2] Orji was arrested in 1999 and died in Nigeria's only super-maximum penitentiary, where he spent 13 years without being tried. [1]
Orji was originally from Enugu State in south-eastern Nigeria but lived in Lagos state in the south-west.[ citation needed] He was initially a razor-blade merchant but later proclaimed himself a shaman, a "native doctor Chinneyelu". [2] He lived under a highway bridge in Oshodi-Isolo, reportedly pretending to be mentally ill. [3] [4] [5]
Orji was arrested on February 3, 1999, after a missing woman was discovered near death at his home under the bridge. Fresh and cooked human body parts and human skulls were also discovered. He was arraigned at a Magistrate court in Ebute-Meta. [6] After his arrest, a thorough search of his hideout was made, which also revealed female underwear, [1] [4] a cheque for ₦80,000, and a mobile phone, at a time when the G.S.M. had not been fully introduced to the Nigerian market, so only wealthy people had mobile phones. [6] A man accused of being his accomplice in trading human body parts was also arrested. [2]
At a news conference organized by the police, Orji confessed to kidnapping, murder and cannibalism, saying that he and his accomplice "[had] been eating human meat for the past seven years before coming to Lagos. It is our culture to eat human meat." [2] On December 7, 2000, he was remanded for murder in Kirikiri Prison, which is Nigeria's only supermax prison. [7]
In April 2012, after approximately 12 years in prison without his case coming to trial, Orji sued the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Ade Ipaye, for unlawful imprisonment. [7] Prison authorities stated that they had been unable to have him treated for mental illness, which had progressed and he could not be tried when insane. [8] [9] He died at the age of 46 on August 17, 2012. [1] [9] [10] An autopsy established that his death was from natural causes. [11]